My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 46

Chapter 46: Past betrayal

Nicholas grew thoughtful. “Is that so?” He was as confused as Alex. His mind raced, trying to piece together the motive behind such an odd pursuit.

“It doesn’t make sense,” Alex added. “What could he possibly want with such an old case?”

Nicholas was silent for some time. “Ethan doesn’t make moves without a reason,” he said, his grip tightening unconsciously on the folder in his hand. “Follow him closely.”

“I get it. I’ll report back as soon as I learn more.” With a curt nod, Alex left.

As the door closed behind Alex, Nicholas’s expression hardened further. His mind drifted to the past, and the name “Ethan Moss” only stirred old wounds.

They had grown up together in the same orphanage, once friends, until betrayal tore them apart. Nicholas hadn’t forgotten anything.

Years ago, Thomas Williams had promised to sponsor three children from the orphanage, offering a scholarship to the most prestigious school in the city. It was a dream Nicholas had chased, preparing relentlessly for the entrance exam. Ethan had been his closest friend back then, and Nicholas had even helped him prepare for the test, hoping they would both make it into the school together.

But right before the entrance, Ethan had betrayed him.

Nicholas clasped the folder even tighter as he recalled the painful incident that had broken their friendship forever. He could still feel the icy shock of the lake water as Ethan shoved him in, knowing full well that he couldn’t swim. He remembered thrashing in the water, crying for help.

Ethan just stood there, watching him drown. And then, he ran away, leaving Nicholas to die.

The memory burned in Nicholas’s mind, the betrayal sharp and fresh even after all these years. He could have died that day, but Ava appeared out of nowhere like an angel and pulled him out of the water.

The incident had left him sick, too ill to take the entrance exam that year, but the following year he had returned, stronger and more determined than ever. He passed the exam and was admitted into the school he had dreamed of.

He hopped to find Ava to express his gratitude for saving him. When he finally saw her, she was with Ethan, the very person who had nearly ended his life. And because of that, Nicholas had never approached her.

“Ethan!” A rumbling snarl escaped from the depths of his chest. His chest heaved with the weight of years of betrayal and buried rage, rising to the surface now. “I let you go for what you did to me. But if you dare lay a finger on Ava, I swear I’ll make you regret the day you were born.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day…

The press conference was packed, cameras flashing and reporters buzzing with anticipation as Gianna took her place at the podium. She wore a calm smile, exuding confidence as she addressed the media.

“I’m fine,” she began, her voice smooth and composed. “And I want to clarify that Ava had absolutely nothing to do with the attack on me.” She paused, glancing around the room. “Ava and I are friends. She would never hurt me. So, please, I’m requesting all of my fans—stop targeting her.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, but a reporter quickly raised a question. “If she is your friend, why did she look so furious that day in the restaurant? We still have footage of Ava slapping Mr. Dylan Brooks. People are also saying she is angry about your closeness with him, and that she hired those goons to attack you.”

Before Gianna could respond, Dylan, who had been sitting off to the side, interjected. “That day was my fault. I made her angry. It’s a personal matter, and we’ve resolved it already. But because of fake rumors, some women attacked my wife. That’s unacceptable.”

Dylan’s tone grew more forceful as he continued, “People are still spreading lies, and I won’t tolerate it anymore. My wife is innocent. Stop all this nonsense.”

The room buzzed again as the female reporter quickly fired off another question. “Are you saying your wife is angry because of your connection with Miss Gianna? Is that why she slapped you?”

“What is your relationship with Miss Gianna?” another one chimed in. “Are you dating her secretly?”

Dylan’s fists tightened against the table, his knuckles turning white as the barrage of insinuating questions sparked irritation. Watching his tense jawline, Gianna could tell he was angry. She felt a wave of satisfaction. This was exactly what she wanted—the reporters questioning their relationship, stirring up rumors.

The press conference was supposed to clear Ava’s name and quell the gossip, but Gianna had other plans. She had paid certain reporters to steer the conversation towards her and Dylan’s relationship.

“You are misunderstanding us,” Gianna smoothly intervened, placing her hand gently on Dylan’s clenched fist. “We are good friends.” Her words were measured, meant to dispel the rumors, but the subtle gesture of her hand lingering on his sent a completely different message.

The room buzzed with whispered speculation as the cameras captured the moment.

“I’m close to the Brooks family,” Gianna continued. “People often misinterpret my closeness with Dylan. But the truth is far from what people assume.”

Despite her words, the sight of their hands together only fueled the gossip, and the reporters were quick to seize on the opportunity.

One of them shot up a question, “You say you’re just friends, but you’ve been spotted together at numerous parties. And before this, no one even knew about Mr. Brooks’ wife. She has never been seen in public with him, but it’s always you, Miss Gianna. What do you have to say on this?”

Another reporter quickly followed. “Yes, Mr. Brooks never misses the premieres of your movies. And now he is rumored to be investing in a big-budget film where you’re the lead. Everyone knows he played a major role in your rise to stardom. Is this really just about friendship, or is there more between you two?”

The room erupted in a frenzy, with reporters hurling questions at them, one after another. Gianna, feigning panic, widened her eyes as if she were overwhelmed by the sudden attention. But inside, she was overjoyed.

She had managed to shift the narrative, making her relationship with Dylan the center of attention. Her mission was accomplished.

As the cameras flashed and the questions intensified, Dylan’s patience snapped. “That’s enough!” he bellowed. The room fell silent instantly, all eyes widening in shock. “I arranged this press conference to clear the rumors about my wife, but you’re all twisting it into something else, spreading more lies!”

He stood up, pointing his finger at the hall full of media personnel. “It’s people like you who thrive on sensationalism that make our lives miserable! All of you are trying to ruin my marriage! Ava is my wife, and if anyone dares to spread more rumors about her, I’ll ensure your news outlet vanishes from this city!”

With that vehement warning, Dylan stormed out”

Gianna clenched her fists under the table, the rush of triumph she had felt moments ago dissipating like mist. Dylan’s outburst had taken the situation far beyond her control.

The reporters still had questions swirling in their minds, but before they could shout them out, the guards stepped in, firmly guiding Gianna toward the exit.

Justin stepped up and said, “The press conference is over. I think you all have received your answers. Please leave.”

The guards began ushering the journalists out of the hall.